Variable tread earthworking implement with frame leveling means



Dec. 29, 1953 L: E. HECKATHORN VARIABLE TREAD EARTHWORKING IMPLEMENT WITH FRAME LEVELING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 29, 1947 L. VARIABLE TREAD EARTHWORKING IMPLEMENT Dec. 29, 1953 E. HECKATHORN WITH FRAME LEVELING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1947 N Z 3 NM Z. /6 w 0 L. E. VARIABLE TREAD EARTHWORKING IMPLEMENT Dec. 29, 1953 HECKATHORN WITH FRAME LEVELING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 29, 1947 Patented Dec. 29, 1953 VARIABLE TREAD EARTHWORKING IMPLE- MENT WITH FRAME LEVELING MEANS Loyd E. Heckathorn, Garden Grove, Calif., as-

signor to Towner Manufacturing '00.,Santa Ana, Calif., a partnership Application December 29, 1947, Serial No. 794,405

n! 5 Claims.

This invention relates to carriage structures and control mechanisms for earthworking implements supported upon ground wheel-s, more particularly two wheeled implements, wherein the carriage structure is adapted to be raised and lowered to accomindate the implements in earthworlzing positions and in elevated or transport positions.

Various types of structures have been employed which comp-rise wheeled frames carrying earth working toolssuch as plows,=cultivators and subsoilers, in which the tools-are adapted to be lifted and raised as required through the medium of raisingand lowering the frames or carriage structures upon which they aremounted.

It is one object of the-present invention to provicle means for varying the spread of the wheels at the opposite sides of the implement whereby to position the wheels for accommodating any spacing of rows that the farmer may desire, it being more particularly an object to have such tread of the wheels universally variable, rather than to provide only for a limited number of predetermined adjustments.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a frame or carriage structure specifically-adapted to quick and easy adjustment to any desired position of the wheels. l'he invention also has for an object a means for carrying and mounting a multiplicity of earthworking tools, so that they may be adjusted universally, and may lie beyond the wheels desired, and therefore may beaccommodated to any spacing of rows of plants that may he encountered in tilling the soil or that may be required in preparing the soil for various crops or for other purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide, especially in two-wheeled structure, a frame or e rriage particularly adapted for the mountin ies of forward earthwork ng tools as well as a series of rearward earthworking tools.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically controlling the elevations forward and rearward series of earth 2 raised from such positions by movement of the implement.

Other objects of the invention and various features thereof will become apparent upon reference to the following specification and the accompanying drawings wherein certain embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustration.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is in'general-a plan view of an earthworking implement possessing the various features of this invention, the universal adjustment of the ground wheels being indicated by broken lines and the parts in general being in the position of Fig. 6;

Fig. 2 is principally a side elevation of the structure of Fig. 1, except that the control parts are in a rearward position rather than the forward position of Fig. 6, certain portions being broken away to facilitate disclosure, and the framework being shown in elevated position with the earth-working tools held in inoperative relationship above the surface of the ground;

Fig. 3 is an elevational detail showing a clamp means for mounting the earthworking tools upon the frame or carriage structure of the implement;

Fig. 1. is a fragmentar front elevation taken approximately from the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig, '5 is an elevation of a portion of the structur of -Fig. 2 showing the relationship of -most of thecontrol parts, including an actuating lever, immediately following the dropping of the frame or carriage structure from the position of Fig. 2 to an earthworking position somewhat as seen in Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Figs. 2 and 5, the tools being in 'earthworking position, and parts being shown in their relationship preparatory to elevating the frame and tools from earthworking position forward movement of "the ground wheels; V

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary View illustrating the actuating lever in its movement from the'position of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view similar in some respects to that of Fig. 6 and showing the relationship of the parts as the frame or carriage structure is elevated into the inoperative positionof Fig. 2.

v The ,structure illustrated comprises ground wheels l0 and a pair of transversely spaced wheel frames ll, each of the frames H comprising a longitudinally extendingbar l2 at one sideof the respective wheel'and a bar 13 spaced from the bar Hat the outer side of the respective wheel I?) except that the forward portion of the bar 3 converges inwardly and joins the forward end of the bar I2. The forward ends of the bars I2 and i3, in each instance, are adjustably mounted by a clam I4 slidable upon a transversely extending forward square beam I5, the rearward ends of the bars I2 and I3 being adjustably mounted upon a rearward square beam It by means of slidable clamps I8. Preferably, a middle bar I9 extends longitudinally of the implement, its forward end being connected to the beam I5 by another clamp I4, and its rear ward end being connected to the rearward beam I5 by another clamp I8. The clamps I 4 and i8 are of approximately identical construction, and each comprises a main clamp jaw to which the respective end or ends of the bars I2, I3 and I 9 are welded, and a separable clamp jaw 21, the jaws and 2I being adapted to be bound together upon the square beams I5 and IE by means of tie bolts 22. It will be observed (Figs. 2 and 6) that the square beams I5 and I6 are positioned with one diagonal disposed vertically, and proper clamping engagement of the jaws 20 and 2% with these beams I5 and IE is eifected through the medium of right angle notches 23 in the jaws 25 and 2!. Thus, when the tie bolts 22 are loosened, the clamps It and i may be shifted along the beams I5 and I6 universally to any desired position of adjustment, in which position the clamps may be secured by tightening the tie bolts 22. As best seen in Fig. l, of the jaws 28 and 2i is in the form of a U, the ends of the bars I 2, l8 and it being welded to the bends of the respective Us 2c, and the elongated sides of the Us having the right angle notches 23.

Each of the square beams I5 and I6 adapted to support a multiplicity of earthworking tools T, each of which is shown as comprising a standard 24 whose upper end is mounted on the respective square beam by means of a universally adjustable clamp 25, which in many respects is similar to the clamps i and 28, as best indicated in Fig. 3. Here, a lower jaw 26 of the clamp may be made integral with the standard 24, and a separable upper jaw 2'! of the clamp bound to the lower jaw 26 by means of U bolts 28 and cross tie bars 29. By these clamps 25 each of a multiplicity of tools T may be universally adjusted along the square beams I5 and I6 and retained in adjusted position through the medium of the U bolts 28, and end tools may be disposed beyond the wheels Iil as indicated in Fig. 1 on one end of the square beam I6.

The implement is adapted to be drawn forward through the medium of a draft tongue generally indicated at 30, this tongue comprising two angularly disposed draft bars 32, each bar 32 being formed of two adiustably connected parts, the adjacent ends of the respective parts being provided with rigidly attached slide loops 33 respectively embracing the adjacent end portions of the other bar parts, and being adapted to be held in adjusted relationship, in each instance. by means of a locking pin 34 which projects through apertures in one of the slide loops 33 and selectively through one of a plurality of openings 35 in the other bar parts. The forward end of each of the adjustable bars 32 is pivotally connected by a pivot bolt 35 with a short tongue bar 3i whose forward end is bifurcated as shown and carries a short clevis or swinging eye 38 mounted as by a pivot bolt 39. The eye 38 is adapted for attachment to a tractive vehicle for vertical swinging of the draft tongue 33 and transverse swinging of the implement as a whole when turning. The rearward end of the short tongue bar 31 is connected to an adjustable bracing and positioning arm 4-5 similar to each of the bar 32, through the medium of a transverse hinge GI, for a purpose later to be explained. The rearward end of each adjustable bar 32 is adjustably connected with the forward square beam 25. In the form shown, this is accomplished by means of an eye welded to the rearward end of the respective bar 32 and engaged in an eye 44 fixed to the lower end of depending bracket 45 which is mounted on the square beam I5 by means of a clamp (Fig. 1) of the same construction as the clamps i4 and I3, and comprising a main clamp jaw 53 and a separable clamp jaw 45 adapted to be bound together by tie bolts 43. In the form illustrated, the upper end of each bracket is is welded to a lower portion of the respective main clamp jaw 47.

In order that the carriage structure or frame, which is constituted by the wheel frames II the transverse square beams I5 and i6 upon which the wheel frames Ii are mounted, may be properly raised and lowered for the purpose of Withdrawing the earthworking tools T from the earth and returning them to earthworking position, each wheel I 0 is mounted upon a bell crank assembly (Figs. 2 and 6) of the crank axle type. Each assembly 50 comprises an axle 5| upon which the respective wheel it is directly journalled, and each axle 5| is carried between spaced supporting crank arms 52 which are cured, as by welding or the like, to a transverse crank shaft 53 to which in turn is fixedly secured. as by welding or the like, a single, upstanding actuating arm 54. The crank shaft 53 for each wheel I0 is journalled upon the bars I2 and #3 of the respective frame II in any appropriate manner, as by being mounted in bearing brackets 55 bolted to the respective bars I2 and I3.

Each wheel frame I I is provided with a control mechanism 58 for its crank assembly 50. This mechanism is, in each instance, comprised of an actuating lever 6!] controlled by a cable 60a and carrying a swinging dog SI, a connecting bar 52 which constitutes a draw bar, a bell crank G3 which constitutes a trip device and to one end of which the connecting bar 62 is pivotally attached as by a pivot bolt 64, a swinging arm to which the other end of the connecting bar 62 is pivotally connected as by a pivot pin 66, an

" offset anchor bar or anchor beam 58, an? a jointed linkage H! which comprises the adjustable arm 40 and a longitudinally disposed movement-limiting and positioning arm '12 whose rearward end is connected by a pivot bolt or pivot pin I3 to the upper end of the crank arm 54 and also to the forward end of a bracing link 14 which is part of the linkage I0 and has its rearward end pivotally connected by a pivot bolt or a pivot pin I5 with the rearward end of the offset anchor beam 68, the pivot pin Ii ment being effected when the bell crank 63 is actuated by forward movement of the connecting draw bar-:62. so that.the.too1s..T-may descend to theearth. Otherwiseithecrank arm 6.3a isheld in ,a position as illustrated inEigMG by a spring is whose upper end is connected to the crank,6 3 and whose lower end isattachedto .a rearwardly extending boss IS on the rearwardmostportion or the anchor beam .68.

The forward end of .each anchor'beam 68-is pivotally mounted upon abolt .89 carried inthe upper end .of .an upstanding mounting ,8] whose lower end is fixed upon the respective longitudinal frame bar I2 byabolt 82,.the mounting 85 being braced byabracearmtt whose upper-end is mounted upon the .bolt .80' and.whose.1ower endis secured to the barLtby-a Jbolt .8311. The

bolt .62 also .serves .asa pivotalmounting (of the lever lit. The upper portion of each upstanding mounting .8! carries on its forward sidea stop block .84 through which theforward end of a corresponding jack screw 85slidab1ypasses. each instance the jack screw85 which comprises the usual, long, internally .threaded socket. memher and externally threaded screw shaft has the rear end of its socket memberv pivoted upon the pivot pin i3, while the forward end of the screw shaft carries a head 86 fixed thereon and adapted toabut against thestop block 84, and also having a crank 504 to adjustthe effective length ofthe jack screw 85. When the parts are in their elevated .positionof Fig. 2 and thehead 85 .is turned up tight against the block 84, the parts are locked, and the tools and frames cannot be lowered. When the jack shaft .is extended somewhat,'it permits corresponding drop of the tool?- until thehead 86 strikes the stop:84, whereupon further movement of (the bell crank arm 54 ceases.

The forward end of each position-ingand movement-limiting arm i2 is pivotally connected with the previously mentioned adjustablebracing arm through the medium ref a pivot bolt '81 which connects the arm 12 to a reel; arm 38 sl-idable along but normally bound upon a transverse square rock shaft es through themedium of a hub 63a having a square hole receiving the shaft 5% and provided with a setscrew :51. The middle of the square shaft 95 carries an upstanding rock arm 92 also having a souare hole and slidable along the square shaft 9%), the-upper end of the arm 92 being provided with spaced ears which carry a hinge pin 5t received in an eyellfi-upon the upper end of the bracing arm M Thesquare roclr shaft 96 is mounted by having its ends fixed in collared bushings t8 rotatably carried in the upper end of fixed arms til rigidly secured, as by welding 28 to the end portions of'the forward transverse square beam 15. The middle'portion of the square rock shaft 95 also is'positioned with respect to the square beam l5 by means of other collared bushings 98a, like the bushings :98, mounted upon the shaft stand rotatably secured in the upper ends of rigid arms ill eachof whose lower ends is adjustabl-y clamped to .the square beam l5 by being secured as bywelding to one member I32 of an adjustable clamp 'lzM of "the same construotion'as the adjustable clamps [4 previously described.

from the foregoing, it will :be apparent that each rock armies rocks withthetscuare rock shaft til which'is held in a fixed positionabove the iorwardsquare beam 55, such rocking being oriected in conjunction with the operation of the draft tongue 38 and the movement limiting arm 72, as will be described.

as previously indicated,- the raising: and lower :ingcoflthe carriage structure comprised of the wheel frames H "-andx-zthe forward and rearward square beams [band It is efiected throughthe actuating ileversscby way of the previously mentionedcables'fita, and the leveling of the forward and rearward earthworking tools T is maintained through the linkages ill which are comprised of the positioning and movement-limiting arms ii, the bracing links it and the adjustable positioning arm w. When the carriage structure and tools are in the elevated position illustrated in .the pivot pin :T-3,-Which, in each instance,

connec'ts'the znoveznent-limiting arm "l2 and the bracing link .14 with the upstanding crank actuatingqarm' at, ispositioned above the dead centerli-ueof the pivot {pin Hand the pivot bolt-8.1.

Each bracinglinl: it serves to maintain such elevated .positionof the respective pivot 135.1113, and the-weight of the carriage structure placed upon theirespective wheel ltthrough the respective 'beli-crankassembly 5t insures maintenance of this relationship by action of the crank arm ,54.

In order to drop the carriage structure and the tools T into the earthworking position of Fig. 6, it is necessary to place draft upon each draw bar te pull'forward the upper portion of the bell crank so roller ii on the for-ward extremity cf the arm eta of the bell crank may press upon the back of the upstanding arm 54 and thereby'dislodge the pivot pin it from its elevated position to a point belov. the center line of the pivot pin l5 and thepivot bolt t'lwvherebv the carriage structure and the tools T may drop to a'positionsuch as indicated in 6. 'Such requ red -movement of the draw bar 62 is accomplished through the medium of the swinging dogs! on the actuating lever 69 when the latter is drawn forward by the cable For this purpose each swinging dog 6| whichis pivoted upon one side of the respective lever lit by a pivot bolt 165, extends laterally one direction so that it will be brought into engagement, during travel through its arcuate path, with a laterally projecting-stud, or, as illustrated, a roller lee disposed upon -a projecting end portion of the respective pivot pin 66 at the forward end or the respective draw bar 62. The opposite edge of each swinging dog 6| projects so that it will overlie the forward edge of the r spective actuating 'lever'til and thuscorne into contact with such forward edge which thereby acts as a stop. This general relationship is shown in Fig. 5. The parts having been advanced suuiciently to shift the off center pivot .pin T3 so that the carriage structure drops, .each bell crank. assembly 53 assumes the relationship shown and the rearward portions'o'f the draw bar 62 and the anchor beam $8 are correspondingly elevated with respect to the respective wheel frame 5 Continued movement of reach actuating lever 6t causes the swinging dog 6! to clear the roller its as indicated in Fig. 7,. Clearance having been effected, the'sprin'g 15.011 the respective bell crank 53 opcrates to return the respective draw bar 52 and bell crank 63 to their relatively inoperative positionssomewhat as indicated in Fig. 6. In order that the actuating lever cc may be operated in unison from the drivers seat on a tractive vehicle to which the implement is attached by the swinging 'clevis or eye 38 at the forward end of the draft tongue 33, the'draft cables Gila are joined, as by a clamp Hill to a single cable tell which leads to the drivers station. When the driver releases the cable 169, the two'actuating levers 60 are respectively returned to their initial positions, as seen in Fig. 2 by means of springs IIB connecting the levers 6E! and the frame bars I2.

For the purpose of lifting the carriage structure and the earthworking tools 'I from the operative position shown in 6 to the inoperative or transport position shown in Fig. 2, the actuating levers Bil are again relied upon. This result is accomplished by means of a ratchet-like cockscomb II 2 for each wheel l2, each cockscomb II2 being a part of a bell crank pivoted on the respective frame bar it as indicated at H3, this bell crank including 2. depending bell crank arm I I4. A pull rod. H connects the respective bell crank arm IM with the respective actuating lever 60, its forward end being mounted in any one of a series of apertures I I6, and its rearward end sliding through a mount ng H8 (Fig. 8) rotatably carried in the lower free end of the bell crank arm II 4. By reason of this sliding mounting, initial forward actuation of the respective lever 69, to effect release oi the carriage structure so that it may drop to lower the tools T to earthworking position, takes place without moving the respective cocks comb if?! from the position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. However, when it is de ired to elevate the carriage structure and the tools T, actuation of the levers 50 forward to a point beyond that necessary to release the carriage structure brings nuts I If) on the rearward ends of the pull rods H5 into engagement with the mountings I I8 and thereby then serves to pull the cookscombs H2 forward from the position of Figs. 2 and 5 to the position of s. 6 and 8, whereupon ratchet-like teeth i Ha on the cock combs I I: are brought into driving engagement with short spacer sleeves IZd carried on bolts I2! secured to the spokes !22 of the wheels 5% and to retaining rings I24 held in place on the spokes by the bolts I2I.

The cockscombs H2 having been brought into proper driving engagement with the sleeves I20 on the wheels i0, through actuation of the levers 60 by the cables 65% and its, forward draft of the implement by the tractive vehicle to which it is attached causes the cockscombs H2 to be elevated by rotation of the wheels is through the agency of the ratchet teeth 5 Ha. As a consequence of the elevation of the cockscombs H2, the wheel frames i I and the square beams I5 and I6 are elevated thereby also elevating the tools T. When such elevation has been effected, the anchoring parts for each wheel It, including the anchor beam the bracing link it and the pivot pin I3, are returned to their original position, as best indicated in Fig. 8. At this stage, release of the cable 129 permits the springs I It! to become operative and return the corresponding parts to the initial position illustrated in Fig. 2, the hinged dogs 6! overriding the respective rollers I85 as the levers 69 pass to such initial position. The springs 78 will have effected return of the draw bar 62 and the bell crank trips 53 to their initial positions with respect to the anchor beams 68. Under thus conditions the cockscombs II2 will be readily released from the sleeves I20 on the wheels I0, the cockscombs will move back into their disengaged position by gravity or through any other appropriate agency, such as collars Ii5a carried upon the pull rods II 5 at points in advance of the crank arms H4. By shortening the jack screws 85 so that their heads 86 bind on the stops 84, the parts may be locked in elevated position.

Operation In general, the various functions of the present structure and its operation have been outlined above. To recapitulate, the transverse, square beams I5 and I6 serve as forward and rearward frame members upon which the two wheel frames I I are adjustably mounted for lateral adjustment by means of the clamps I4 and I8 which are slidable along the beams I5 and !6 when the bolts 22 are loosened and are bound in desired position by tightening the bolts 22. In this manner any suitable tread or wheel spacing between the wheels I0 may be accomplished. Similarly, each of the multiplicity of tools '1 is laterally adjusted along the respective beam I5 or it through the medium of its clamp 25 which is best shown in Fig. 3. Thus, a great variety of earthworking tools may be employed and disposed according to any spacing arrangement required for the working of any desired arrangement of rows or of plant spacing. Also, this construction conveniently provides for the employment of a forward series of earthworking tools on the forward beam I5 as well as for the usual rearward series of earthworking tools such as those carried by the rearward beam Hi.

When the implement has been brought onto a field to be worked, and it is desired to drop the tools T from the transport or inoperative position of Fig. 2 to the earthworking position of Fig. 6, the jack screw 85 is let out to the desired extent, and the driver of the tractive vehicle pulls the cable Ill-9, thereby placing forward draft upon the forking cables 653a and pulling forward both of the actuating levers 63. As previously described, the swinging dogs 6! on the levers 58 move into engagement with the rollers I85 at the forward ends of the draw bars 52 so that continued forward movement of the lovers to, working through the draw bars rocks the bell crank trips 53 about the pivot pins on the rearward ends of the anchor beams 52 so that the rollers I! at the extremities of the bell crank arms 63a press against the rearward edges of the upstand'ng crank arms 54 and dislodge the off center pivot pins 73, which connect the bracing links 74 with the movement-limiting arms The pins 73 thus are forced downward through dead center so that the links 4 no longer brace the parts in elevated position and permit the carriage structure including the wheel frames H to descend until the tools T penetrate the earth. Descent continues until the jack screw heads 86 strike the stops 84, thus limiting further movement of the bell crank arms 54 and consequent movement of the arms 52. As seen in Fig. 6, somewhat further descent will occur before the head 86 shown will strike the stop 84.

Cultivation or any other earthworking process then occurs upon forward draft of the implement by the vehicle to which it is attached by Way of the clevis or swinging eye 58 at the forward end of the draft tongue 36. Elevation of the carriage structure and the earthwor ing tools T from the earthworking position of F 6, and the restoration of the control mechanism to initial position from the position of Fig. 5, are eifected by moving the actuating levers forward again until the pull rods I I 5 move the cockscombs 12 from the position of Figs. 2 and 5 to the position such as illustrated in Fig. 6, whereupon movement of the implement forward causes the sleeves I20 carried by the bolts I2! on the wheels II] to engage the ratchet teeth IiZa and raise the cockscombs I I 2 from the position of Fig. 6 into the position of Fig.6 so that the anchoring link-- ages provided by the anchor beams t3, the brac ing links it and the movement-limiting arms 12 are restored to their initial positions as illustrated in Figs. land 8.

In order that the forward earthworking tools- T may be maintained at an even level with the rearward e'arthworking tools XVIl-lCh-COI1dltlOl i of a necessity requires constant relationship between the forward square beam and. the rearward square beam it, the movement-limiting arms l2 and the forward bracing andpositioning arm til of the draft tongue so are employed.

Since the swinging eye'tt attaches the ard end of the draft tongue to the'tractiveve tongue' structure were used which was flexibly" connected with the carriage structure such rocking would be relatively uncontrolledl To overcome these difdculties andmaintain the'forward and rearward series of tools at arr-even level, the tongue bars are pivotally connected by the eye ccnnections' ia's ito the front square beam 55, and asort of stiff-knee structure'i's pro-- vided to connect the forward portion of the-draft tongue 35) with the control link. control the position of theupper standing crani: actuating arms as with respect the forward end of the draft tongue required stiff-kneeaction is effected by the accurate positioning of the pivot bolts 8? at the forward ends of the movement limiting arms 52,

these arms also" c'onstitutingleveier arm's';"and this positioning is accomplished by the mounting of the pivot bolts or upon the upper ends of the rock arms 83 whose lower ends are retained in fixed positions by means of the square rock shaft 98 which in turn is held in fixed position in the upper ends of the fixed arms 39 and lbi which are rigidly held on the forward square beam 55. As a consequence of this construction, as the carriage structure and the tools T drop from an initial level relationship, as seen in Fig. 2, and the tongue bars 32 and their attaching eye 38 swing downward with respect to the vehicle and their rearward ends hinge with respect to the carriage structure by reason of the eyes is the upper end of the bracing and positioning arm ii} necessarily moves somewhat rearward in conjunction with a corresponding movement of the movement-limiting arms l2. Not only are the movement-limiting arms '82 caused to move in conformity with the movement of the upper end of the bracing and positioning arm so, but such movement of the arms i2 is limited by the corresponding movement of the positioning arm 49. This control of course takes place through the medium of the square rock shaft {iii and the rock arms at and 92 (Fig. i) upstanding therefrom.

Thus, the greater the downward movement of the earthworking tools T and the greater thev downward swinging movement of the tongue arms 32, the greater will be the rearward movement of the upper end of the bracing and positioning arm 40 and consequently the greater will be the relative permitted rearward movement of the movement-limiting arms 12 and the pivot pins 13 and the upper ends of the upstanding crank arms 5 of the bell crank assemblies 50. The limit of this movement is gauged by the depth control devices, the movement ceasing when the 10 heads strike thestops 84 Since the spacing of 'the pivot bolts 81: and the'pivot pin Sid (Fig. 4)

with respect to th'e forward square" beam I5 is" maintained substantially. constant by reason of the upstanding fixed: arms- 99, i0! and the upstanding rock arms 88; 92,- thever'ticai move ments of theforward and rearward square beams i5and7 Hi'an'd their earthworking' tools T are equal,. regard1ess of the amount of drop of these members withnr'espect to the point of attach ment of the ton'gue'mount'ing eye 38- upon the tractive vehicle:

InJorde'r toiobtain' a proper positioning of the movement-limiting. arms l2 and of the'positio'n 1 ingsand. bracing arm: 48, the adjustment meanswhenthe'two wheel frames 1 I are adjusted along thenforward square beam- 65, whereby to insure proper length ofthese arms with relation to the particular setting of the bracing and positioning arm 40.

Since modifications of the generic aspects of the invention herein disclosed will become apparent to those skilled in this art, it is intended to cover all modifications falling within-the scope of the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1.: In "combination in an earthworking' im'ple a pair of transversely spaced ground merit: wheels; a transverse frame structure mounted' onsaid'wheels about a transverse axis provided by said wheels, said frame structurecomprising a transverse rearward beam and a transverse forward beam; pivoted means opera'tively connected with said wheels and carried by said frame structure for automatically raising and lowering the same with respect to said wheels; two series of earthworking tools spaced respectively along said beams; a stiff draft tongue pivotally connected with said forward beam and adapted to be attached to a tractive vehicle; and leveling means attached to said raising and lowering means and to said draft tongue for automatically maintaining the forward series of tools in a given even relationship with respect to each other horizontally when in lowered positions and when in raised positions, said leveling means comprising a jointed linkage having one portion pivotally attached to said draft tongue and another portion pivotally attached to said raising and lowering means, and means to position the joint of said linkage, said jointed linkage including a leveler arm and a bracing arm for limiting movement of said raising and lowering means, and said raising and lowering means including a bell crank carrying a wheel, an anchor beam and a swinging bracing link pivoted on said anchor beam, one end of said leveler arm being pivotally connected to said bracing link and to said bell crank to control the relative position of said wheel.

2. In combination in an earthworking implement: a pair of transversely spaced ground wheels; a transverse frame structure mounted on said wheels about a transverse axis provided by said wheels, said frame structure comprising a transverse rearward beam and a transverse forward beam; pivoted means operatively connected with said wheels and carried by said frame structure for automatically raising and lowering the same with respect to said wheels; two series of earthworking tools spaced respectively along corresponding. adjustment of the-'- said beams; a stiff draft tongue pivotally connected with said forward beam and adapted to be attached to a tractive vehicle; and leveling means attached to said raising and lowering means and to said draft tongue for automatically maintaining the forward series of tools in a given even relationship with respect to each other horizontally when in lowered positions and when in raised positions, said leveling means including limiting arms and positioning arms for limiting movement of said raising and lowering means, and said raising and lowering means including bell cranks for carrying said wheels, an anchor beam for each limiting arm, and a swinging bracing link pivoted to each anchor beam and its limiting arm and to the respective bell crank, whereby to control the relative position of the respective wheel.

3. In an earthworking implement, the combination of: a pair of transversely spaced ground wheels; a pair of wheel frames in which said ground wheels are respectively mounted; a transverse beam upon which both of said frames are mounted; means for raising and lowering said frames and beam with respect to said wheels; a plurality of earthworking tools also mounted upon said beam; a draft tongue pivctally connected with the forward ends of said wheel frames; and leveling means attached to said raising and lowering means and to said draft tongue for automatically maintaining said frames level in both lowered and raised positions, said leveling means including limiting arms and positioning arms for limiting movement of said raising and lowering means, and said raising and lowering means including bell cranks for carrying said wheels, an anchor beam for each limiting 12 arm, and a swinging bracing link pivoted to each anchor beam and to its limiting arm and to the respective bell crank, whereby to control the relative position of the respective wheel.

4. A combination as in claim 3 including means adjustably mounting said wheel frames on said transverse beam, and means adjustably mounting said earthworking tools on said transverse beam.

5. A combination as in claim 3 including a forward beam disposed transversely ahead of said transverse beam and upon which forward portions of said wheel frames are mounted, the rearward portion of said draft tongue being connected to said forward transverse beam.

LOYD E. HECKATHORN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,491,579 Boda Apr. 22, 1924 1,653,677 Strandlund Dec. 27, 1927 1,653,678 Strandlund Dec. 27, 1927 1,653,695 Brown Dec. 27, 1927 1,677,474 Graham July 17, 1928 2,050,731 Phillips Aug. 11, 1936 2,160,243 Webb May 30, 1939 2,257,650 Pfeifer et a1 Sept. 30, 1941 2,320,742 Newkirk June 1, 1943 2,340,497 Thomas Feb. 1, 1944 2,385,950 Silver Oct. 2, 1945 2,426,529 Silver Aug. 26, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 344,298 Italy Nov. 3, 1936 

